Could be the starter itself, or the starter solenoid.

Strategies:

1. Check the neutral safety switch. Slide the gears through from Park down to drive and back a few times, try to crank in both Park and Neutral. Wiggle it around a little.

2. If you think the solenoid's not working, hit the starter with a hammer (not hard enough to dent anything) - that'll un-stick it sometimes. More frequently they stick starting than not starting, though.

3. Somebody else will shortly follow this with "jump the starter" - there's contacts under there somewhere, that you can use to energize the starter while bypassing the switches completely.

__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL